An Evaluation of the PEDALS Program

Positive Emotional Development and Learning Skills

A diverse group of smiling preschool students with their arms raised sit on the floor in their classroom, facing the teacher.

Photo by FatCamera/Getty Images

PEDALS is a social-emotional learning (SEL) program that combines a SEL curriculum, teacher coaching, and the use of data to identify the needs and promote the SEL of children ages zero to five—all with an eye towards sustainability.

PEDALS providers in Southeast Michigan and Western and Central New York have partnered with RAND to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of PEDALS. The evaluation took place during the 2023-2024 school year.

The evaluation has two parts:

an implementation study to better understand how PEDALS is delivered in a variety of childcare settings that serve children ages zero to five
an impact study to understand the efficacy of the program in building SEL and executive functioning skills of children in prekindergarten classrooms.

Results of the project will help PEDALS providers understand the successes and challenges in providing services to children to facilitate continuous improvement. The results will also provide information to the broader early childhood education on this approach to improving child outcomes.

This study is generously funded by the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation and the Health Foundation of Western & Central New York.